Saturday, January 05, 2013
Wednesday, January 02, 2013
A new year and a twist on an annual tradition.
In keeping with a Spokane tradition, the number of firefighters on the street dedicated to protecting life, property and the infrastructure of Spokane has once again shrunk in the new year. From 59 on-duty firefighters (not counting the 2 response chiefs) we are now down to 56, in spite of the growth in the city's population, area and economy.
It is a well-documented fact that Spokane is one of Washington's most underfunded departments, not just in its cities, but its rural fire districts, as well. A quick comparison between Tacoma, the next smallest city, after Spokane, shows that the Tacoma Fire Department receives about three times the funding of the Spokane Fire Department. Three times! Yet, Spokane goes on more calls than Tacoma, and with a lot less people.
In 2013, response times will rise and favorable outcomes in emergencies will decline. This is not a New Year's prediction. It is simple math. Less people going on more calls has been the trend year after year, but this year, a bizarre variable has been thrown into the formula.
Engine 9, after one hundred years of service to the South Hill will cease to operate in 2013. That is where the three positions have been eliminated. This will put a strain on the South Hill. Rescue 9 (formerly Rescue 1), staffed with only two people, and with no way to fight fire, will be assigned to Station 9. However, it is still tasked with some Station 1 duties - Hazmat, SCBA maintenance, etc. Rescue 9 will respond to every structure fire and auto extrication (jaws of life) in the city, so anytime there is a fire or major car accident, Rescue 9 will be gone. That leaves Station 4 from Downtown or Engine 11 from Perry and 32nd to respond into Engine 9's former area.
And here's where things get bizarre. According to a new policy, Engine 11 will no longer be taking its fire engine on medical calls, but a small truck with no firefighting capability. That means if they have a fire in their area or in Engine 9's former area, or any other place, they will have to return to the station and swap out of their small ambulance-like vehicle and into the fire truck if they are not already at their station.
In what would have been a 3 minute response to your house that is on fire, it will now be a 10-15 minute response.
Unbelievable.
Usually when cuts are made in an organization, cuts like shutting down a fire station, there is usually some sort of "force multiplier" that is sought - some new way of doing business or buying a piece of equipment or an innovative allocation of personnel and resources that will help alleviate the crisis brought about by short staffing. This new policy of taking firefighters out of firetrucks, actually divides firefighters from their firetrucks and their firefighting equipment. In essence, a "force divisor" is created. This "force divisor" makes the closure of Engine 9 more detrimental to public safety.
For 2013, things went instantly from bad to worse on the South Hill, simultaneously. Eliminate a fire engine and then hamstring those who would have tried to pick up the slack. Incredible.
In 2013, the entire South Hill will have only three firefighters permanently in one fire engine, down from nine firefighters permanently in three engines, spread across the South Hill in 2012.
But, if you live on the north side or have a business downtown and you feel like you were spared from this separation of firefighters from their firefighting equipment, think again. Engine 13 on the corner of Jefferson and Wellesley will be doing the same thing as Engine 11. And, likewise, Downtown's Ladder 1 will now be driving around in a pickup truck much of the time, hopefully not when the 3 alarm fire comes in for a Downtown high rise fire.
Separating firefighters from their firefighting equipment keeps them from acting as firefighters all of the time. In a new year, with another round of cuts to the fire department, we need all of our firefighters to be firefighters all of the time.
It is a well-documented fact that Spokane is one of Washington's most underfunded departments, not just in its cities, but its rural fire districts, as well. A quick comparison between Tacoma, the next smallest city, after Spokane, shows that the Tacoma Fire Department receives about three times the funding of the Spokane Fire Department. Three times! Yet, Spokane goes on more calls than Tacoma, and with a lot less people.
In 2013, response times will rise and favorable outcomes in emergencies will decline. This is not a New Year's prediction. It is simple math. Less people going on more calls has been the trend year after year, but this year, a bizarre variable has been thrown into the formula.
Engine 9, after one hundred years of service to the South Hill will cease to operate in 2013. That is where the three positions have been eliminated. This will put a strain on the South Hill. Rescue 9 (formerly Rescue 1), staffed with only two people, and with no way to fight fire, will be assigned to Station 9. However, it is still tasked with some Station 1 duties - Hazmat, SCBA maintenance, etc. Rescue 9 will respond to every structure fire and auto extrication (jaws of life) in the city, so anytime there is a fire or major car accident, Rescue 9 will be gone. That leaves Station 4 from Downtown or Engine 11 from Perry and 32nd to respond into Engine 9's former area.
And here's where things get bizarre. According to a new policy, Engine 11 will no longer be taking its fire engine on medical calls, but a small truck with no firefighting capability. That means if they have a fire in their area or in Engine 9's former area, or any other place, they will have to return to the station and swap out of their small ambulance-like vehicle and into the fire truck if they are not already at their station.
In what would have been a 3 minute response to your house that is on fire, it will now be a 10-15 minute response.
Unbelievable.
Usually when cuts are made in an organization, cuts like shutting down a fire station, there is usually some sort of "force multiplier" that is sought - some new way of doing business or buying a piece of equipment or an innovative allocation of personnel and resources that will help alleviate the crisis brought about by short staffing. This new policy of taking firefighters out of firetrucks, actually divides firefighters from their firetrucks and their firefighting equipment. In essence, a "force divisor" is created. This "force divisor" makes the closure of Engine 9 more detrimental to public safety.
For 2013, things went instantly from bad to worse on the South Hill, simultaneously. Eliminate a fire engine and then hamstring those who would have tried to pick up the slack. Incredible.
In 2013, the entire South Hill will have only three firefighters permanently in one fire engine, down from nine firefighters permanently in three engines, spread across the South Hill in 2012.
But, if you live on the north side or have a business downtown and you feel like you were spared from this separation of firefighters from their firefighting equipment, think again. Engine 13 on the corner of Jefferson and Wellesley will be doing the same thing as Engine 11. And, likewise, Downtown's Ladder 1 will now be driving around in a pickup truck much of the time, hopefully not when the 3 alarm fire comes in for a Downtown high rise fire.
Separating firefighters from their firefighting equipment keeps them from acting as firefighters all of the time. In a new year, with another round of cuts to the fire department, we need all of our firefighters to be firefighters all of the time.
Fire Press Release
South Hill Apartment Fire
Incident #: 2012056715
Date of Incident: 12/31/2012
Issuing Officer: BC Dave Haworth
Date of Incident: 12/31/2012
Issuing Officer: BC Dave Haworth
Narrative:On Monday, Dec 31 at 0324 AM, the Spokane Fire Department dispatched 4 engines, 1 ladder truck, 1 heavy rescue, and 2 battalion chiefs to a reported structure fire at 1405 W 8th. First arriving Station 4, located in the Brown's Addition neighborhood, arrived and reported a fire in one of the upstairs units. Ladder 4 organized a search of the second floor and had Engine 4 advance a hose to attack the fire. Subsequent arriving crews were assigned to search the rest of the building, check for extension of the fire, and remove the smoke. The fire was confined to the unit of origin, with smoke damage to two other nearby apartments. SPD officers assisted by isolating the area from traffic and coordinating help for the displaced occupants. STA also assisted by providing a bus to shelter the displaced occupants during the incident. 3 units were declared uninhabitable and Red Cross provided assistance to those occupants. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters.
Cause:The fire is under investigation by the Spokane Fire Dept Investigation Unit
Damage:Damage was confined to the unit of origin with some smoke extension to adjoining apts.
# Firefighters Responding: 30
Dollar Loss: $ 30000
Other Agencies Responding:
SPD, Avista, STA
SPD, Avista, STA
End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
Monday, December 24, 2012
Fire Press Release
Family Saved by Smoke Detector
Incident #: 2012055719
Date of Incident: 12/24/2012
Issuing Officer: Bob Green/Battalion Chief
Date of Incident: 12/24/2012
Issuing Officer: Bob Green/Battalion Chief
Narrative: The Spokane City Fire Dept. dispatched firefighting crews and their apparatus to 3218 W. Rosamond Ave. at 03:14 hrs on Monday morning, Dec. 24th, to a reported structure fire at that address. As Ladder #4 arrived on scene from their fire station located in Brown’s Addition, they reported by Fire Dept. radio that there was visible fire showing through a bedroom window of the structure, they also reported that all the occupants were safely outside, having been awakened by a working smoke detector. Shortly thereafter Engine #4 arrived at the scene, their response was somewhat delayed since they were away from their station finishing up on an EMS call. Once Engine #4 was on scene they were ordered to advance a lead inside the structure and locate the fire. As additional crews began arriving on scene they were given assignments that included search and rescue, a second fire attack lead, a back-up lead to protect the crews already inside, water supply, roof ventilation, a scene Safety Officer, and a Rapid Intervention Team to be in place should a fire fighter become injured or lost inside the building. The Incident Commander upgraded this fire to a “working fire”; this up-grade would add an additional fire apparatus to the incident. The fire was located in one of the bedrooms and in a very well coordinated effort between the crews on scene the bedroom window was broken from the exterior just as the crews inside made their attack on the fire and the crew on the roof opened up the roof. The result of this well planned attack was a quick knock-down of the fire which kept the fire damage confined to that room of origin. While the fire damage was limited to the one room there was considerable smoke damage throughout the building. There were no reports of injuries to any of the occupants of the house or to fire fighters at the scene. The cause of this fire is currently being investigated by the Spokane City Fire Dept.’s Special Investigation Unit. 5 engines, 2 ladders, 1 heavy rescue truck, and two Command Vehicles delivered 27 fire fighters to this incident.
Cause:Under Investigation.
Damage:One bedroom and contents completely destroyed. Smoke damage throughout. A large hole was cut in the roof for ventilation purposes. Electricity and natural gas utilities were shut off.
# Firefighters Responding: 27
Dollar Loss: $ 20,000
End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Fire Press Release Twofer
South Battalion Residence Fire
Incident #: 2012055387
Date of Incident: 12/21/2012
Issuing Officer: AC Schaeffer
Narrative:
On Friday, December 21, 2012 at 9:33PM, 7 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 4 Engines, 2 Senior Ladders and 1 Heavy Rescue under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Thompson and Cornelius responded to a residential building fire in the South Perry District at 720 South Laura.
While responding, firefighters were notified by a neighbor reported flames being visible from the two-story home. The first company arrived within 5-minutes and found heavy pressurized smoke emanating from all floors and an intense fire inside the residence. The incident was upgraded to a “working fire” by the first Chief Officer which added an additional ladder company and other off-duty resources. Ladder companies had to vertically ventilate the roof and force entry into multiple sides of the building which allowed engine companies to access to the interior where they successfully located and extinguished the fire. All companies assigned to the initial stages of the fire completed a rapid, well-coordinated search of the premises for any victims and found nothing. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters on this incident.
Cause:
The cause remains under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department's Special Investigation Unit.
Damage:
There is heat and heavy smoke damage throughout the basement and first floor. The house in its current state is not inhabitable; however the aggressive efforts by the firefighters limited potentially catastrophic damage to only the area surrounding the origin.
# Firefighters Responding: 28
Other Agencies Responding:
Spokane Police Department,
End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
Fire at County Jail Facility
Incident #: 2012055358
Date of Incident: 12/21/2012
Issuing Officer: C. Cornelius / Battalion Chief
Narrative:
On Friday December 21, 2012 at 5:30PM, 8 Companies of Spokane Firefighters; 2 Senior Ladders, 5 Engines and 1 Heavy Rescue responded to a basement fire in the Spokane County Jail. The first arriving fire companies at this high rise facility were met by jail personnel who reported a fire in a large industrial clothes dryer in the basement. Jail personnel activated and followed their emergency action plans which continued to provide security to the facility while allowing firefighters to gain access to the basement fire area. Firefighters from Station 4 extinguished and confined the fire to the industrial clothes dryer. Other fire companies verified that the fire had been confined to the one area and worked with jail personnel to ventilate the smoke from the enclosed structure. All floors were ventilated and monitored for carbon monoxide before leaving. Quick action and proper implementation of the Jail’s emergency plans resulted in a positive outcome. There were no injuries at this incident.
Cause:
Under Investigation: Possible equipment malfuction.
Damage:
Industrial dryer.
# Firefighters Responding: 27
Dollar Loss: $ 5000
End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
Incident #: 2012055387
Date of Incident: 12/21/2012
Issuing Officer: AC Schaeffer
Narrative:
On Friday, December 21, 2012 at 9:33PM, 7 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 4 Engines, 2 Senior Ladders and 1 Heavy Rescue under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Thompson and Cornelius responded to a residential building fire in the South Perry District at 720 South Laura.
While responding, firefighters were notified by a neighbor reported flames being visible from the two-story home. The first company arrived within 5-minutes and found heavy pressurized smoke emanating from all floors and an intense fire inside the residence. The incident was upgraded to a “working fire” by the first Chief Officer which added an additional ladder company and other off-duty resources. Ladder companies had to vertically ventilate the roof and force entry into multiple sides of the building which allowed engine companies to access to the interior where they successfully located and extinguished the fire. All companies assigned to the initial stages of the fire completed a rapid, well-coordinated search of the premises for any victims and found nothing. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters on this incident.
Cause:
The cause remains under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department's Special Investigation Unit.
Damage:
There is heat and heavy smoke damage throughout the basement and first floor. The house in its current state is not inhabitable; however the aggressive efforts by the firefighters limited potentially catastrophic damage to only the area surrounding the origin.
# Firefighters Responding: 28
Other Agencies Responding:
Spokane Police Department,
End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
Fire at County Jail Facility
Incident #: 2012055358
Date of Incident: 12/21/2012
Issuing Officer: C. Cornelius / Battalion Chief
Narrative:
On Friday December 21, 2012 at 5:30PM, 8 Companies of Spokane Firefighters; 2 Senior Ladders, 5 Engines and 1 Heavy Rescue responded to a basement fire in the Spokane County Jail. The first arriving fire companies at this high rise facility were met by jail personnel who reported a fire in a large industrial clothes dryer in the basement. Jail personnel activated and followed their emergency action plans which continued to provide security to the facility while allowing firefighters to gain access to the basement fire area. Firefighters from Station 4 extinguished and confined the fire to the industrial clothes dryer. Other fire companies verified that the fire had been confined to the one area and worked with jail personnel to ventilate the smoke from the enclosed structure. All floors were ventilated and monitored for carbon monoxide before leaving. Quick action and proper implementation of the Jail’s emergency plans resulted in a positive outcome. There were no injuries at this incident.
Cause:
Under Investigation: Possible equipment malfuction.
Damage:
Industrial dryer.
# Firefighters Responding: 27
Dollar Loss: $ 5000
End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Fire Today. Why you take the big fire truck and not a little pickup truck on medical calls.
North Battalion Garage Fire
Incident #: 2012055134#
Date of Incident: 12/20/2012
Issuing Officer: Battalion Chief Bill Donahoe
Narrative:
On Thursday December 20, 2012 at 1:50 PM six companies of Spokane Firefighters including four engines, one senior ladder and one heavy rescue under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Donahoe and Moline responded to a reported garage fire at 5004 North Martin. Engine 15 firefighters from the Hillyard Neighborhood had just cleared a medical call in their district and were able to respond within 3 minutes to the detached garage fire. Engine 15 through their quick attack was able to confine the fire to the involved garage. Other Companies were assigned to protect an exposed home and garage along with overhauling the involved structure. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians as a result of this incident.
Cause:
The Spokane Fire Dept Special Investigation Unit has determined the fire was started to the exterior wall of the garage from the alley access and has been determined to be arson.
Damage:
Due to the quick actions of the firefighters, damage was limited to the garage of origin and a fence.
# Firefighters Responding: 18
Dollar Loss: $ 7000.00
Other Agencies Responding:
Avista
End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
Incident #: 2012055134#
Date of Incident: 12/20/2012
Issuing Officer: Battalion Chief Bill Donahoe
Narrative:
On Thursday December 20, 2012 at 1:50 PM six companies of Spokane Firefighters including four engines, one senior ladder and one heavy rescue under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Donahoe and Moline responded to a reported garage fire at 5004 North Martin. Engine 15 firefighters from the Hillyard Neighborhood had just cleared a medical call in their district and were able to respond within 3 minutes to the detached garage fire. Engine 15 through their quick attack was able to confine the fire to the involved garage. Other Companies were assigned to protect an exposed home and garage along with overhauling the involved structure. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians as a result of this incident.
Cause:
The Spokane Fire Dept Special Investigation Unit has determined the fire was started to the exterior wall of the garage from the alley access and has been determined to be arson.
Damage:
Due to the quick actions of the firefighters, damage was limited to the garage of origin and a fence.
# Firefighters Responding: 18
Dollar Loss: $ 7000.00
Other Agencies Responding:
Avista
End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
With your help, tomorrow, we'll be handing out over 500 coats.
Mike Bacon still needs more of us to help deliver and distribute these coats. As you can imagine, moving 553 coats from Station One to the school will be quite a chore. Then there is the distribution of the coats. Different sizes, colors and styles mixed with a lot of kids ready for Christmas vacation will make the logistics challenging. The more people we have, the easier it will be. If you can make yourself available to help in the morning or the early afternoon, please call or text Mike at 998-3615.
This is a great way to help, on your day off, some of the families you help every day at work. This might be the best gift some of these kids will receive this Christmas, and you could be the one giving it to them.
Thanks, John
Here is a video of how these things usually play out:
This is a great way to help, on your day off, some of the families you help every day at work. This might be the best gift some of these kids will receive this Christmas, and you could be the one giving it to them.
Thanks, John
Here is a video of how these things usually play out:
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Fire Press Release
West Central Residence Fire
Incident #: 2012054407
Date of Incident: 12/16/2012
Issuing Officer: Battalion Chief Bill Donahoe
Narrative:
On Sunday December 16, 2012 at 09:03 AM, 6 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 1 Senior Ladder, 1 Heavy Rescue, 4 Engines under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Bill Donahoe and Bruce Moline, responded to reported structure fire at 1814 West Mission in Northwest Spokane. Engine 3 from the neighborhood fire station arrived within three minutes of dispatch to find flames and smoke showing from an exterior wall on the first floor progressing to the second floor and attic of the two story balloon framed dwelling. Residents met the firefighters as they arrived and reported that everyone had evacuated the building except two cats and pet birds on the second floor. The First arriving Battalion Chief arrived and upgraded the incident to a working fire which brought another Senior Ladder to the scene. Companies were assigned to the first and second floor along with the roof to attack and ventilate the rapidly progressing fire while another company rescued all the pets from the heavy smoke filled environment. Due to the quick response and coordinated attack the fire was completely extinguished within one hour. There were no injuries reported from either residents or firefighters. The Family of three adults is being assisted by the Red Cross for shelter until the home can be repaired.
Cause:
The Spokane Fire Departments Special Investigation Unit has determined that the fire started from the wood stoves chimney which ignited the framing components of the exterior wall.
Damage:
There is significant fire damage to the first and second floor adjacent to the chimney along with moderate Smoke damage throughout the home.
# Firefighters Responding: 22
Dollar Loss: $ 20,000.00
Other Agencies Responding:
Avista and Red Cross
End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
Incident #: 2012054407
Date of Incident: 12/16/2012
Issuing Officer: Battalion Chief Bill Donahoe
Narrative:
On Sunday December 16, 2012 at 09:03 AM, 6 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 1 Senior Ladder, 1 Heavy Rescue, 4 Engines under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Bill Donahoe and Bruce Moline, responded to reported structure fire at 1814 West Mission in Northwest Spokane. Engine 3 from the neighborhood fire station arrived within three minutes of dispatch to find flames and smoke showing from an exterior wall on the first floor progressing to the second floor and attic of the two story balloon framed dwelling. Residents met the firefighters as they arrived and reported that everyone had evacuated the building except two cats and pet birds on the second floor. The First arriving Battalion Chief arrived and upgraded the incident to a working fire which brought another Senior Ladder to the scene. Companies were assigned to the first and second floor along with the roof to attack and ventilate the rapidly progressing fire while another company rescued all the pets from the heavy smoke filled environment. Due to the quick response and coordinated attack the fire was completely extinguished within one hour. There were no injuries reported from either residents or firefighters. The Family of three adults is being assisted by the Red Cross for shelter until the home can be repaired.
Cause:
The Spokane Fire Departments Special Investigation Unit has determined that the fire started from the wood stoves chimney which ignited the framing components of the exterior wall.
Damage:
There is significant fire damage to the first and second floor adjacent to the chimney along with moderate Smoke damage throughout the home.
# Firefighters Responding: 22
Dollar Loss: $ 20,000.00
Other Agencies Responding:
Avista and Red Cross
End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
Friday, December 14, 2012
Local 29 Santa Sleigh Flying To Your Neighborhood!
Well it’s that time of year again! As I write, the snow is falling, Thanksgiving is firmly behind us, and the Local 29 Firefighters of Spokane are heading out to share some Christmas Cheer!
Of course, I am talking about the Local 29 Spokane Firefighters Union’s Santa Sleigh. We are very lucky to have had a wonderful donation of an aging 1998 Chevy service truck (which was due for replacement) from Avista and with a lot of time and money invested on the part of the Local 29 members we have created a brand new Santa Sleigh! They have done a lot of work to get it ready in time for the season.
The weather between Thanksgiving and Christmas is always a mystery and now with the four wheel drive sleigh, Santa will be able to get out and about spreading the holiday spirit come freezing rain or snow. In our old sleigh (which we still maintain and use on occasion) we were limited by the two wheel drive under the snowy conditions of December many years.
On any given night, a group of Local 29 firefighters check out the sleigh and head out to see as many kids as possible within a given Spokane neighborhood. The music is blaring and candy canes are flying; almost as fast as the smiles! Most crews try and meet by 5:30pm or so and get on the road early enough to see the kiddos before they head off to dreamland.
For many kids, the firefighters realize, this is their only chance to see Santa. The malls may be too expensive for many parents or the time required to go may be more than they can offer. It is a very big deal, young or old, to see Santa! And while the teenagers may have learned the secret behind the curtain I can assure you the magic is still very much alive! Parents are overjoyed at a chance to shoot a photo with the kids with Santa! We attempt to stop (when and where safe) and hand out candy canes to every child we see. Many kids and parents may wave from the window at first but if we pause they will frequently grab a coat and head out to visit.
Again, right there in the street with Santa might be that kid’s only chance to tell Santa what he wants for Christmas. We try and take the time to listen, not making any promises of course, remind them to be good for mom and dad, and ask them to have mom and dad help them write a letter and mail it to Santa so he doesn’t forget their big wish on Christmas night! And since some kids catch on that “you aren’t the real Santa” we try to be straight with them. “Actually you are right! I am not the real Santa, I am an elf. Lots of Santa’s Elves make toys back at the North Pole and many others get out into the community and help Santa by finding out what all the good boys and girls want for Christmas. St. Nicholas is very busy at this time of year getting ready and he needs us elves to help him out!”
So, if you hear a little Christmas music blaring louder than your typical teen driver it just might be Santa Clause and his elves from your City of Spokane Firefighters Union! And don’t forget to be nice, because Santa’s driving around checking on his Naughty and Nice list and you don’t want a lump of coal on Christmas morning do you?
Merry Christmas!
Patrick Moore, Local 29
(509)475-6916
Thursday, December 13, 2012
News story on trading fire trucks for pick up trucks.
Here. Make sure you read the comments. SFD had a call last week for a medical call, got there and it was a fire call. This kind of thing happens a lot. If this call had happened next year, the crew would have had to go back and trade their pickup truck for their engine. In the minutes following, would the person who called have lived? Would her house have burned down?
Again, Why do firefighters, all over the world, take a big fire truck on medical calls? It's a very simple answer. And in other places, when citizens ask the question, they get the answer.
Again, Why do firefighters, all over the world, take a big fire truck on medical calls? It's a very simple answer. And in other places, when citizens ask the question, they get the answer.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Congrats to the newly elected and reelected!
The results are in!
Don Waller was elected as Local 29 President.
Jason Archibald and Shane Skipworth were reelected to eboard.
Dan Strobeck and Kasey Austin were elected to Grievance Committee.
Congrats to all and thanks for your service!
Don Waller was elected as Local 29 President.
Jason Archibald and Shane Skipworth were reelected to eboard.
Dan Strobeck and Kasey Austin were elected to Grievance Committee.
Congrats to all and thanks for your service!
Fire Press Release
South Hill Apartment Fire
Incident #: 2012053362
Date of Incident: 12/09/2012
Issuing Officer: Battalion Chief Steve Sabo
Date of Incident: 12/09/2012
Issuing Officer: Battalion Chief Steve Sabo
Narrative:At 8:40 PM on Sunday, December 9th, the Spokane Fire Department responded two ladder trucks, four engines, one rescue truck and two battalion chiefs to a reported fire at 607 S. Monroe Street. Engine and Ladder 4 arrived on scene within four and one-half minutes from their Browne’s Addition station and reported smoke from the attic of the three-story Victorian style house, which had been converted to ten apartments. While Engine 4’s crew advanced a fire attack hose to the third floor, Ladder 4’s crew confirmed that all occupants of the structure had evacuated, and then began searching for the source of the smoke. As other crews arrived they were assigned to other necessary tasks including laddering the roof in case roof ventilation was needed, establishing a water supply from a hydrant, extending a backup attack hose and establishing the required rapid intervention team in case firefighter rescue was needed. The smoldering fire in the attic was quickly located, using thermal imaging cameras, and extinguishment was accomplished by opening a portion of the ceiling in one of the third floor apartments. Although crews were able to keep damage to the structure to a minimum, one apartment will not be habitable until repairs to the structure and to the electrical wiring can be completed. Until then, the Red Cross is assisting the occupant of that apartment with temporary housing.
During the fire, Spokane Police Officers assisted in routing traffic around the scene, which closed the south Monroe Street hill for several hours. Street Department crews also sanded the hill, due to icing conditions created during firefighting operations. AMR responded an ambulance crew to standby during the fire. Fortunately, there were no injuries to civilians or firefighters.
During the fire, Spokane Police Officers assisted in routing traffic around the scene, which closed the south Monroe Street hill for several hours. Street Department crews also sanded the hill, due to icing conditions created during firefighting operations. AMR responded an ambulance crew to standby during the fire. Fortunately, there were no injuries to civilians or firefighters.
Cause: Investigators from the Spokane Fire Department’s Special Investigation Unit determined the cause of the fire to be malfunctioning electrical wiring in the attic.
Damage:Damage was confined to burned ceiling joists and the removed portion of ceiling area. Also, electrical wiring in the fire area will need to be replaced.
# Firefighters Responding: 24
Dollar Loss: $ 10,000
End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
Sunday, December 09, 2012
Engine 9's last fire after a hundred years' service?
From Spokanarama blog.
Too bad E-9's crew was in a spare rig this morning and not their regular engine.
There has been an Engine 9 for over a hundred years serving Spokane's South Hill. Hopefully, the last fire put out by Engine 9's crew, before the city council shuts it down in a couple of weeks, will be in the real Engine 9!
How does Spokane's fire service value stack up against its closest comparable?
And again, this underscores why firefighters take the big trucks to medical calls.
Soon-to-be-closed Engine 9 first in at neighbor's fire...
There has been an Engine 9 for over a hundred years serving Spokane's South Hill. Hopefully, the last fire put out by Engine 9's crew, before the city council shuts it down in a couple of weeks, will be in the real Engine 9!
How does Spokane's fire service value stack up against its closest comparable?
And again, this underscores why firefighters take the big trucks to medical calls.
Article about Engine 9 closure.
@IAFFLocal29: This morn's @SpokesmanReview article on closure of historical South Hill Engine 9 after years of saving homes & lives here.
Wednesday, December 05, 2012
Why firefighters take the big trucks on medical calls
This article from Spokanarama . I will add two things to this article:
1. As budgets get smaller, the ranks of firefighters shrink, yet they are tasked to do more. In fact, there were around 25 more firefighters on duty every day in Spokane before firefighters added emergency medical services to their firefighting duties.
2. Yesterday's fire where E-15 and L-2 rescued the family from the house fire may have had very different results if E-15 or L-2 were in an ambulance or pickup truck on a medical call and had to return to the station to get the "big truck" with their turnout gear, their SCBAs, their ladders, their hoses, their pump, their axes, etc. and then proceed to the fire.
Heres the article:
This is a question that I get asked a lot. You can see from the photo above, and if you do a Google search of "fire trucks, engines, paramedics. etc.," the norm is that firefighters use fire engines and ladder trucks to deliver emergency medical services. The photo above is featured on this website.
Why is this the norm?
Quite simply, firefighters have to be prepared, no matter where they are, no matter what they may be doing - building surveys, fireworks patrol, training, etc. - to respond to any type of emergency. These emergencies include house fires, heart attacks, auto accidents, hazmats, garage fires, strokes, entrapments, car fires, deaths, apartment fires, stabbings, heroin overdoses, people getting run over, shootings, etc.
So, firefighters take the fire engine or ladder truck with the pump, the hoses, the ladders, the nozzles, the breathing apparatus, the cutting tools, the axes, the chainsaws, the defibrillator, the medications, the oxygen, and the all their protective gear with them wherever they go.
If a fire call comes in and they are on a medical call and the patient is OK, or the ambulance shows up, if they are returning to the station from a medical call, if they are on their way to a medical call and they see smoke billowing out of a home, if they are picking up medical supplies from the hospital, they can respond immediately because they are already with, or in, a fire engine or ladder truck. Likewise, if they are at a fire, because they have medical gear on their fire apparatus, they can perform emergency medical services for a fire victim immediately.
All of this saves time. Time is the enemy for firefighters - whether they are in their EMT role helping a stroke or heart attack patient or whether they are acting in their fire suppression role in the early stages of an exponentially expanding apartment fire.
If you have a scanner and were listening to the recent Lincoln Terrace apartment fire, you would have heard fire companies, from all across the city, clear from the medical calls they were on ASAP and proceed directly to the fire. They didn't have to drive back to the station and get "the big fire truck." Today, you can walk by the scene of this fire on 7th and Lincoln, and see what could have happened, if the response had not been timely. With homes and apartments, uphill and right against the apartment complex, the fire would have spread quickly and pretty far into the neighborhood.
To me, and probably to you, this concept seems like a simple thing to explain to others.
If you ever get asked why firefighters take the big trucks on medical emergencies by a friend or neighbor, would you please let them know? Thanks!
1. As budgets get smaller, the ranks of firefighters shrink, yet they are tasked to do more. In fact, there were around 25 more firefighters on duty every day in Spokane before firefighters added emergency medical services to their firefighting duties.
2. Yesterday's fire where E-15 and L-2 rescued the family from the house fire may have had very different results if E-15 or L-2 were in an ambulance or pickup truck on a medical call and had to return to the station to get the "big truck" with their turnout gear, their SCBAs, their ladders, their hoses, their pump, their axes, etc. and then proceed to the fire.
Heres the article:
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Why does a big fire truck go on medical calls?
This is a question that I get asked a lot. You can see from the photo above, and if you do a Google search of "fire trucks, engines, paramedics. etc.," the norm is that firefighters use fire engines and ladder trucks to deliver emergency medical services. The photo above is featured on this website.
Why is this the norm?
Quite simply, firefighters have to be prepared, no matter where they are, no matter what they may be doing - building surveys, fireworks patrol, training, etc. - to respond to any type of emergency. These emergencies include house fires, heart attacks, auto accidents, hazmats, garage fires, strokes, entrapments, car fires, deaths, apartment fires, stabbings, heroin overdoses, people getting run over, shootings, etc.
So, firefighters take the fire engine or ladder truck with the pump, the hoses, the ladders, the nozzles, the breathing apparatus, the cutting tools, the axes, the chainsaws, the defibrillator, the medications, the oxygen, and the all their protective gear with them wherever they go.
If a fire call comes in and they are on a medical call and the patient is OK, or the ambulance shows up, if they are returning to the station from a medical call, if they are on their way to a medical call and they see smoke billowing out of a home, if they are picking up medical supplies from the hospital, they can respond immediately because they are already with, or in, a fire engine or ladder truck. Likewise, if they are at a fire, because they have medical gear on their fire apparatus, they can perform emergency medical services for a fire victim immediately.
All of this saves time. Time is the enemy for firefighters - whether they are in their EMT role helping a stroke or heart attack patient or whether they are acting in their fire suppression role in the early stages of an exponentially expanding apartment fire.
If you have a scanner and were listening to the recent Lincoln Terrace apartment fire, you would have heard fire companies, from all across the city, clear from the medical calls they were on ASAP and proceed directly to the fire. They didn't have to drive back to the station and get "the big fire truck." Today, you can walk by the scene of this fire on 7th and Lincoln, and see what could have happened, if the response had not been timely. With homes and apartments, uphill and right against the apartment complex, the fire would have spread quickly and pretty far into the neighborhood.
To me, and probably to you, this concept seems like a simple thing to explain to others.
If you ever get asked why firefighters take the big trucks on medical emergencies by a friend or neighbor, would you please let them know? Thanks!
Fire press release
2923 E Central House Fire
Incident #: 2012052437
Date of Incident: 12/04/2012
Issuing Officer: Dave Leavenworth Deputy Chief
Narrative:
This morning December 4, 2012 at 0651 hours the Spokane Fire Department responded 1 heavy rescue, 4 engine companies, 2 ladder companies, 2 Battalion Chiefs, and 1 Deputy Chief to a reported structure fire with reports of occupants inside the home. The first arriving unit, Engine 15 from the Hillyard Neighborhood fire station reported a working structure fire in the basement of a residence with reports of two persons trapped inside. E15 immediately initiated a search operation of the structure. Other arriving units were assigned to conduct simultaneous search operations, ventilate smoke from the structure ,and assist with extinguishment of the fire. SFD personnel rescued two persons from the structure and brought them to medical aid provided by SFD paramedics. AMR personnel arrived to transport a total of five persons from the fire scene to local area hospitals for treatment of their injuries. One adult male victim has been transfered to Harbour View Medical Center in Seattle for definitive treatment of burn injuries. There were no injuries to fire personnel.
Cause:
The cause and origin of the fire is under investigation by members of the SFD SIU unit. As further information is available updates will be provided.
Damage:
Damage estimates were still being tabulated at the time of this release.
# Firefighters Responding: 25
Dollar Loss: $ N/A
End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
Incident #: 2012052437
Date of Incident: 12/04/2012
Issuing Officer: Dave Leavenworth Deputy Chief
Narrative:
This morning December 4, 2012 at 0651 hours the Spokane Fire Department responded 1 heavy rescue, 4 engine companies, 2 ladder companies, 2 Battalion Chiefs, and 1 Deputy Chief to a reported structure fire with reports of occupants inside the home. The first arriving unit, Engine 15 from the Hillyard Neighborhood fire station reported a working structure fire in the basement of a residence with reports of two persons trapped inside. E15 immediately initiated a search operation of the structure. Other arriving units were assigned to conduct simultaneous search operations, ventilate smoke from the structure ,and assist with extinguishment of the fire. SFD personnel rescued two persons from the structure and brought them to medical aid provided by SFD paramedics. AMR personnel arrived to transport a total of five persons from the fire scene to local area hospitals for treatment of their injuries. One adult male victim has been transfered to Harbour View Medical Center in Seattle for definitive treatment of burn injuries. There were no injuries to fire personnel.
Cause:
The cause and origin of the fire is under investigation by members of the SFD SIU unit. As further information is available updates will be provided.
Damage:
Damage estimates were still being tabulated at the time of this release.
# Firefighters Responding: 25
Dollar Loss: $ N/A
End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
Tuesday, December 04, 2012
Fire Press Release
South Battalion House Fire
Incident #: 2012052316
Date of Incident: 12/03/2012
Issuing Officer: Bob Green/Battalion Chief
Narrative:
The Spokane City Fire Dept. dispatched fire apparatus and their crews to 2317 E. 4th Ave. at 12:20 hrs on Monday, December 3rd for a reported structure fire. As the crew from Station 7, located in the lower South East section of the City, was approaching the address they could see large amounts of black smoke in the sky and reported by radio that this was a working fire and requested an up-grade to the alarm which would bring additional resources to the incident scene. E7 arrived on the scene and reported a single story wood/frame dwelling with heavy black smoke showing from the roof and eaves of the building and immediately made a decision to make an offensive attack on the fire. As other apparatus began arriving on scene the Incident Commander started making assignments that included water supply, Safety Officer, search and rescue, fire attack, back-up hose lines to protect the fire fighters already engaged in the interior attack, vertical ventilation on the roof, horizontal ventilation at the ground floor level and the deployment of a RIT Team to be in position should the rescue of a lost or injured fire fighter become necessary. A complete search of the entire building was ordered, as per Fire Dept. policy, to ensure that there was no one inside while the simultaneous fire attack and ventilation efforts were undertaken. Fortunately the search found no victims in the building and the very hot and well-advanced fire was brought under control in about 30 minutes. Fire damage to the structure was considerable and much of the interior of the building had to be opened by the fire fighters to ensure that no fire was concealed in the walls, ceilings, and attic space. A large portion of the roof had to be opened to allow the hot, toxic gasses to ventilate into the atmosphere. The areas of the building not damaged by the fire itself were severely damaged by the heavy smoke conditions that were present. There was one reported injury to one of the fire fighters who responded to this early afternoon blaze. The fire fighter fell through a burnt out area of the floor inside the structure, the fire burning below the floor burned an area of skin on his lower leg that became exposed when his turnout pants were pushed up as his leg dropped through the floor. He was examined at the scene by AMR Para-Medics and deemed fit to return to duty at the scene. Five engines, three ladders, one Heavy Rescue Truck, and two Command vehicles responded to this incident with 34 fire fighters on scene to get the fire confined and extinguished. The Spokane Fire Dept. Special Investigation Unit has determined that the cause of the fire was an electrical malfunction inside the dwelling.
Cause:
Electrical malfunction.
Damage:
Heavy fire damage to the entire structure. Most of the interior contents were damaged either by the fire or the high heat that was present in the interior of the structure
# Firefighters Responding: 34
Dollar Loss: $ 80,000
End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
Incident #: 2012052316
Date of Incident: 12/03/2012
Issuing Officer: Bob Green/Battalion Chief
Narrative:
The Spokane City Fire Dept. dispatched fire apparatus and their crews to 2317 E. 4th Ave. at 12:20 hrs on Monday, December 3rd for a reported structure fire. As the crew from Station 7, located in the lower South East section of the City, was approaching the address they could see large amounts of black smoke in the sky and reported by radio that this was a working fire and requested an up-grade to the alarm which would bring additional resources to the incident scene. E7 arrived on the scene and reported a single story wood/frame dwelling with heavy black smoke showing from the roof and eaves of the building and immediately made a decision to make an offensive attack on the fire. As other apparatus began arriving on scene the Incident Commander started making assignments that included water supply, Safety Officer, search and rescue, fire attack, back-up hose lines to protect the fire fighters already engaged in the interior attack, vertical ventilation on the roof, horizontal ventilation at the ground floor level and the deployment of a RIT Team to be in position should the rescue of a lost or injured fire fighter become necessary. A complete search of the entire building was ordered, as per Fire Dept. policy, to ensure that there was no one inside while the simultaneous fire attack and ventilation efforts were undertaken. Fortunately the search found no victims in the building and the very hot and well-advanced fire was brought under control in about 30 minutes. Fire damage to the structure was considerable and much of the interior of the building had to be opened by the fire fighters to ensure that no fire was concealed in the walls, ceilings, and attic space. A large portion of the roof had to be opened to allow the hot, toxic gasses to ventilate into the atmosphere. The areas of the building not damaged by the fire itself were severely damaged by the heavy smoke conditions that were present. There was one reported injury to one of the fire fighters who responded to this early afternoon blaze. The fire fighter fell through a burnt out area of the floor inside the structure, the fire burning below the floor burned an area of skin on his lower leg that became exposed when his turnout pants were pushed up as his leg dropped through the floor. He was examined at the scene by AMR Para-Medics and deemed fit to return to duty at the scene. Five engines, three ladders, one Heavy Rescue Truck, and two Command vehicles responded to this incident with 34 fire fighters on scene to get the fire confined and extinguished. The Spokane Fire Dept. Special Investigation Unit has determined that the cause of the fire was an electrical malfunction inside the dwelling.
Cause:
Electrical malfunction.
Damage:
Heavy fire damage to the entire structure. Most of the interior contents were damaged either by the fire or the high heat that was present in the interior of the structure
# Firefighters Responding: 34
Dollar Loss: $ 80,000
End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
Sunday, December 02, 2012
Fire press coverage
Spokane Fire Department response on 46th and Stone saved the house next door and stopped the main fire before it got to the bedrooms and living room. Looks like the entire side of the exposed house next door was involved. The wood siding now looks like charcoal. They saved this house and it is still habitable while new siding is being put on. E14 put the water on this exposure and stopped the fire before it extended up to the soffits and into the attic.
The slated-to-be-closed-because-of-$4.50-per-year E9 was the first one into the interior of the primary fire with a nozzle. E11 was on the roof cutting vent holes and trenching.
Here's the Spokesman-Review story.
The slated-to-be-closed-because-of-$4.50-per-year E9 was the first one into the interior of the primary fire with a nozzle. E11 was on the roof cutting vent holes and trenching.
Here's the Spokesman-Review story.
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